Chinese tricycles powering rural livelihoods in Kenya

NAIROBI - In his hometown of Kitui in eastern Kenya, Nixon Nzioka has become one of the most sought-after transportation service providers.

Nzioka owns a tricycle, which he uses to transport agricultural products, household goods, water, and various construction materials such as sand, gravel, and stones.

"Business is good. There are only two of us in this trading center offering tricycle transportation services," Nzioka, who bought the Chinese-made machine five months ago, told Xinhua.

Nzioka said the purchase of the tricycle from Sincerity Holding Group, a Chinese company based in the Kenyan capital of Nairobi, has been one of the best decisions he has ever made, as he earns an average of 1,000 Kenyan shillings ($7.7) a day.

The tricycle branded Apsonic is making inroads in Kenya's rural and urban areas, not only as a reliable means of transportation but also as a moneymaker.

"Before I bought the machine, I did some research and compared it to others on the market. The Apsonic won. It has a strong body, is bigger, and has good ground clearance, which is ideal for rural areas," said Nzioka.

Li Guo, general manager of Sincerity Holding Group Kenya, said the company entered the Kenyan market in 2023, and the quality of their products and good services have seen an increase in the number of customers.

Sincerity Holding Group started introducing electric products in 2022 as it embraces the greener future, he said. The group is continuously improving its products according to usage habits and the environment, and its electric tricycles will soon be sold in the Kenyan market.

According to Li, the company has employed 30 Kenyans, who mainly offer after-sales services to customers across the East African country.

Johanna Muiruri, a local employee of Sincerity Holding Group, said the services include engine oil changes, wheel replacements, and turn signal repairs.

"We also assemble the different parts of the machines once a customer buys them," said Muiruri, a trained mechanical engineer, adding that he has learned a lot of technology from the Chinese firm, which will help him in his future career.

Lucy Njoki, who lives in Loitoktok, about 230 km from Nairobi, said she bought her first machine from Sincerity Holding Group last May. She uses it to provide transportation services, including ferrying farm produce, sand, and firewood, earning about $6.9 daily.

Njoki loves Apsonic tricycles because they are sturdy, have a larger size that allows her to carry many things, and have a low failure rate.

She noted that through the transportation business, she can feed her family, pay rent and school fees, and contribute $3 a week to her savings group.

"I'm definitely going to buy a second Apsonic tricycle so that I can expand this business I do with my husband," she said, adding that with the tricycles, "my future is bright."